Project Quilting 9.5: The Oslo Craft Bag

Project Quilting Challenge Five this year is "A Stitch In Time". This one stumped me a little bit at first. My goal for this season (other than completing all the challenges) is to make projects that I can use on a frequent basis. I wasn't sure how I was going to incorporate this challenge theme into an accessory that I could use a lot.

Then I remembered how my husband bugs me about putting his stuff back (mainly tools) into their correct locations after I borrow things. He hates it when I borrow the screw driver and leave it on the counter instead of putting it back in the tool bag. And rightly so! I get super annoyed when he uses the shipping tape and doesn't put it back in the shipping supplies box (which he does on a regular basis, just so we're clear).

Eventually I came to the conclusion that organization was going to be my focus this week, because it definitely saves time. Nothing drives me crazier than having to hunt for something I know I've got, and I just can't find it!

Sara Lawson's Oslo Craft Bag was on my short list of to-sew items, so I knew this was what I had to make this week. This is a free pattern that is available to her newsletter subscribers. All you have to do is sign up on her website, and she'll send it to you automatically. Don't worry: she's not a spammer. She also just came out with the video to go with it last week, which makes it even better if you're a visual learner like me.

This bag was really fun to put together. I added the rivets on the handles and handle tabs, because rivets are my new favorite thing. I also chose to hand-stitch the binding around the top, because I prefer it in specific cases like this. I love this bag, and I'm so glad I got it done before Modern Stitching Affair in April! It will be great to keep all of my notions and tools organized at the retreat. The bag has a permanent home right next to my sewing table, so it's definitely something I use on a daily basis. The finished size is about 14" x 7.5" x 6.5".

Project Quilting 9.4: The Minikins Cotton Candy Pouch

First of all, I can't believe I've actually been able to keep up with all the Project Quilting challenges so far this season! I'm four for four. Hooray!

This week's challenge is "Mellow Yellow". Apparently the color yellow scares some people. I didn't know that! I love yellow, and my favorite color to pair it with is blue. My wedding colors were actually blue & yellow.

I was really excited that the challenge this week was just a color, because I REALLY wanted to make this particular bag: the Cotton Candy Pouch by Sara Lawson (Sew Sweetness). This is one of the patterns that comes with her Minikins PDF + Video bundle, and it's also her monthly challenge for February. I'm killing all kinds of birds with a single project this week.

I won the $15 gift certificate to Sara's shop from PQ Challenge 9.2 (Thanks Sara & Kim!), so I ordered some of her cork and faux-leather fabrics. I've been really anxious (and also nervous) to give these a go. It was SO fun to work with the cork, and I think it turned out pretty awesome. The cork is the blue stuff on either side of the yellow Anna Maria Horner fabric. I didn't have a minute's trouble with it at all. I was particularly careful while topstitching: I used a longer stitch length (like Sara recommends), lowered my presser-foot-pressure (like I always do when using foam interfacing), and I made sure to have my integrated dual-feed on my Bernina engaged (as I usually do anyway).

I am IN LOVE with this bag! I made the large size, which finishes at about 12" x 7" x 3.5".

Last week I made the Zeppelin Pouch, which is another pattern from the Minikins bundle, and which also happens to be blue & yellow! HA! Here's a few shots of that one. There are 12 unique patterns in the bundle, and all but two of those (I think) have multiple sizes, so I've still got plenty to keep me busy from that bundle. I can't wait to try them all!!

Project Quilting 9.3: Amethyst Project Bag

Project Quilting Challenge Three this season is "Bold & Brave". I knew exactly which project I wanted to tackle this week for the challenge: the Amethyst Project Bag by Sara Lawson (Sew Sweetness). 

I sew my fair share of bags, but this gorgeous pattern has something that brings on the doubts and worries: a curved zipper. A few years ago, I tried another pattern by another designer that required the zipper to be installed around curved corners. I was NOT successful. Since then, I've avoided anything with similar requirements.

Sara Lawson makes awesome videos to go with many of her patterns, and watching them makes me feel empowered to stitch pretty much anything. She shows how even these difficult techniques are completely doable, and great bags with fancy attributes are absolutely achievable.

I replied to a comment on Facebook last night saying how Sara's videos make me feel calm and zen about sewing and also excited at the same time. Although that sounds dichotomous, somehow it's true, and it feels really great. I recommend any of her pattern & video pairs/bundles if you want to tackle a nice bag. I suggest making her projects with exactly the supplies she recommends, at least for the first go-round. She knows what she's talking about, and the types of interfacings and other components she uses all add up to make very polished, professional bags.

Sometimes my instinct is to use whatever I've got in my sewing room and stash that I think "will work OK" when stitching up a new pattern. You all know what I'm talking about, am I right? I've learned to RESIST THAT URGE with Sara's bags, because they're usually a slight disappointment when I use fleece instead of foam or the wrong kind of elastic, etc. When I'm able to invest the kind of time it takes to make a nice bag, I want it to come out great. Sara's patterns are all GREAT when you do and use what she says.

If you spot some flaws in the pics of my bag, don't hold it against Sara's pattern. This was my first attempt, and it's not perfect. It turned out pretty OK, though, and I'll certainly be making more.

Find Sara's Amethyst Project Bag here, and check out her other patterns as well. I just picked up the Minikins bundle last week, and I'm SO EXCITED to start making those! I even joined a Minikins swap. Unfortunately, the swap sign-ups just closed, but these bag patterns would be awesome for a lot of other swaps as well (I'm thinking of the Modern Stitching Affair swap here, hint hint). They would also make awesome gifts; there's a bag for everyone in that bundle.

Before I go, check out these new snips I won from Project Quilting Challenge 9.1 a few weeks ago! They were generously sponsored by Warm Crochet, and they are awesome: beautiful and really sharp! I'm loving them. Thanks Warm Crochet! Thanks, Kim, for being an amazing host and organizer!